Chapter 106: Allowing You to Leave the Palace

"Heh, have you thought through my question? You even dare summon the Emperor." The voice inside the carriage was muffled.

Wan Tang let out a long sigh; ever since getting on the carriage, she no longer dared to call Xu Yenchuan "brother."

She slowly lifted her head, gazing at the sky enclosed by the palace walls, and said in a hoarse voice, "I don't need you to do anything for me."

"Just live well and serve the Emperor."

The voice inside the carriage added a mocking tone, "I will not thank you."

"Even if I become the person I wish to be, I still hate you!"

"Consort Wan, you and I will only be lifelong enemies."

Those voices were laced with a chilling indifference that made the heart race.

Wan Tang lowered her brows; the instant she closed her eyes, her heart shattered like a tear on an eyelash.

She gave a bitter smile and turned away calmly.

Upon hearing that Wan Tang had returned, Xiao Shunzi and Li Ping'er staggered out holding lanterns, the candlelight flickering in their startled eyes.

"Master!" Li Ping'er's voice trembled as she clenched the handkerchief with her fingers.

Wan Tang raised her hand to stop them, and as her cuff slipped, a pale wrist was exposed.

The green‑curtained carriage behind her was unnervingly silent, its pole still covered with damp moss from the dungeon's gloom.

The young eunuch craned his neck and whispered, "Lady, should I still go to summon the Emperor?"

Wan Tang gave him a sidelong glance, "Of course."

"No need," the driver suddenly said.

He removed his bamboo hat, revealing Ouyang Qing's stern face, and said, "When the wheels rolled over the Xuanwu stone road, the Emperor already knew."

Wan Tang's back suddenly broke into cold sweat, but a perfectly timed look of surprise appeared on her face, "Is it Lord Ouyang?"

Wan Tang had thought the Emperor merely distrusted her, but she hadn't expected that even Consort Hui was met with the Emperor's wariness.

"The Emperor worries about the Lady's safety," Ouyang Qing said, his thumb rubbing the hilt, his gaze sweeping over the carriage, "He has specially ordered the Subject to escort her covertly."

Wan Tang forced an awkward smile and said no more.

She quickly ran through her thoughts, pondering whether she had said anything inappropriate earlier.

Fortunately, Xu Yenchuan had remained confrontational on the carriage, so Wan Tang was especially cautious.

"Has my Tangtang returned?"

Chu Yunzheng's voice, wrapped in night dew, came as he stepped through the courtyard gate.

Xiao Dongzi bowed and brushed the crowd aside, moving three strides smoother than Li Defu ever did.

Wan Tang was startled again; no wonder Li Defu harbored such hatred toward her—she had only offered a slight hint, yet Xiao Dongzi understood how to seize the moment perfectly.

While Li Defu was absent, Xiao Dongzi managed to take his place beside the Emperor.

Chu Yunzheng's palm rested over Wan Tang's fingertip, cool as jade, "Tangtang, you've worked hard."

He brushed his thumb lightly across her thenar, his smile never reaching his eyes, "Being pregnant and still laboring like this makes the Emperor feel pity."

Wan Tang saw the scrutinizing gaze lurking in his eyes.

She also knew that Chu Yunzheng's thoughts at this moment were entirely on the carriage.

"I am not weary," she lowered her eyes and bent her knees, withdrawing her hand, "just a little fatigued…"

"Go rest," Chu Yunzheng gathered her cloak with his own hands.

After fulfilling his purpose, it was time to withdraw.

Staying any longer would only increase the distance.

Inside the room.

The earth dragon burned fiercely, the charcoal crackling softly in the bronze beast furnace, yet the warmth failed to reach Wan Tang's fingertips.

She stood before the carved window, the heavy cloud‑brocade curtains bound by golden hooks, but the raging Fēng xuě outside still blurred everything into gray‑white shadows.

Even so, Wan Tang remained there, her eyes fixed intently on the carriage outside.

"Master," Xiao Shunzi whispered, cupping the warm stove close, his voice hushed, "who exactly is in that carriage? Even the Emperor himself came."

"In this Imperial Palace, no carriage can enter; even those of the high officials cannot pass through Xuanwu Gate."

Moreover, the moment the carriage entered the courtyard, a strong putrid odor was detectable.

Wan Tang swept her gaze, a cold blade flashing in her eyes.

Xiao Shunzi fell silent instantly.

He slapped himself quickly and said, "It was the Nubi speaking out of turn."

"Xiao Shunzi, you who stay by my side should know better than anyone; it's best not to ask things that shouldn't be asked," Wan Tang said evenly.

Xiao Shunzi nodded repeatedly, "Yes, the Nubi understands."

Fēng xuě battered the window lattice as Li Ping'er quietly replaced the tea lamp, "Lady, the snow is falling ever heavier."

She glanced at the Master, "I heard the stone steps of Xuanwu Gate have frozen; the palace staff say this year's snow is unusually massive."

"With snow this huge, those extreme cold regions might freeze people to death."

Wan Tang remained expressionless.

Yet her eyes held an unfathomable depth.

"No problem." Wan Tang tapped her fingertip on the window lattice, leaving a few cold wet marks, "Even the fiercest Fēng xuě will eventually cease."

Li Ping'er was about to speak further, but saw the Master had already closed his eyes.

Wan Tang slowly leaned back, the golden‑silk soft pillow sinking with a deep imprint.

【The Dog Emperor is such a scoundrel, letting Ouyang Qing follow and even become a carriage driver.】

【Alas! When I thought the Dog Emperor fully trusted Wan Tang, he was cautious everywhere. When I believed that, at least in this Imperial harem, Consort Hui was the one the Emperor truly cared for, I didn't expect Ouyang Qing to still be kept as a guard.】

【59】 【Fortunately Wan Tang and Xiao Chuan were at odds; this Dog Emperor, at first glance, didn't see Xiao Chuan but instead heard what Ouyang Qing reported along the way.】

Fortunately Wan Tang and Xiao Chuan were at odds, and this Dog Emperor, at first glance, didn't see Xiao Chuan; instead, he asked Ouyang Qing about what he had heard along the way.

The Dog Emperor is indeed afraid of Wan Tang and Xu Yanchuan teaming up; does he live without fatigue? Shei must stay on guard.

Wan Tang felt her heart tremble, and the tea in her hand unintentionally spilled onto the floor.

The teacup shattered on the ground; Li Ping'er hurried forward, concerned: "Master, are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Wan Tang shook her head.

Li Ping'er's hand just touched Wan Tang's hand, she let out a startled "Ya!" and hurriedly said, "Master, why is your hand so cold?"

"Master…"

"Enough." Wan Tang, now irritable and chaotic, waved her hand casually.

On one side is the snow disaster, on the other is Xu Yanchuan's safety.

Wan Tang knows exactly what she is doing; she intends to use this snow disaster to achieve herself, climbing to higher heights.

But now, she is terrified of this snow disaster.

All because of Xu Yanchuan.

"I shall go sit by the desk for a while!" Wan Tang's tone was tinged with fatigue.

Wan Tang took Li Ping'er's arm to stand, and her fingertip pressed a crescent‑shaped blue mark on her wrist.

When the rice paper on the writing desk was spread, it rustled, further aggravating her irritation.

The wolf‑hair brush tip hovered over the characters "relief" above, and ink suddenly dripped, staining the three tiny vermilion annotations "people‑stabilizing plan".

Wan Tang stared at the ink blot, her thoughts becoming a bit vague.

Now, whether it's the previously prepared cold‑warding items or the disaster‑relief measures, Wan Tang has refined them repeatedly.

She is just waiting for the plan to be executed.

"Master." Li Ping'er suddenly called softly, "The carriage outside seems to have left."

Wan Tang only then snapped awake.

The sound of wheels crushing snow faded away.

Chu Yunzheng stood in the snow for a while, still planning to kill you, and walked toward the room.

When Chu Yunzheng pulled back the curtain and entered, Wan Tang was sketching the final segment of a dead branch.

Her frozen fingertips made the plum branch twist like the knuckles of a dying person, and the piled snow pressed the rice paper, making it rustle.

"Tangtang's painting skill has become ever more refined." Chu Yunzheng's finger suddenly brushed the paper, leaving a warm trace on the dead branch, "It's just too sorrowful, making me feel pity."

"I, a foolish concubine, have wasted the Emperor's instruction, and still cannot grasp the essence." Wan Tang's voice was soft and sincere, earnestly apologizing.

"Foolish?" Chu Yunzheng chuckled lowly, picked up a cinnabar brush and dabbed the branch tip, a blood‑bead‑like red plum suddenly bloomed, "In this Capital, lady, who can match even half of Tangtang's spirit?"

"From nothing to something, Tangtang achieved this in just a year."

While speaking, Chu Yunzheng had already added a budding red plum among the withered branches.

Li Ping'er blurted out, "So beautiful!"

"Oh?" the Emperor's pen tip hovered before her nose, "Where is the beauty?"

"So it was… a dead thing." the young maid stared at the cinnabar dot, "But once the bud was added, it suddenly came to life."

Wan Tang's heart trembled again.

Indeed!

It came back to life.

This is the life force given by the Emperor.

Chu Yunzheng laughed loudly, "I didn't expect you, girl, to be so amusing; your words are truly satisfying."

"Reward."

Li Ping'er was overjoyed, repeatedly bowing, hurriedly shouted, "Thank you, Emperor, for your generous favor."

The Emperor indeed loves the Master the most.

Wan Tang giggled, lightly tapped the Emperor with her hand, coquettishly saying, "Emperor, look at you, having spoiled these Nubi to lawlessness."

Chu Yunzheng, in a good mood, waved his hand, "No problem."

He tossed the cinnabar brush into the inkstone, the blood‑red hue spreading in the clear water, "Shei let my Tangtang always be most in line with my thoughts."

"Since the Nubi have all been rewarded, the Emperor will give Tangtang another prize."

Wan Tang's eyes were calm, and she had no particular expectations.

Around her were only gold, silver, and jade ornaments; she already possessed many.

Unexpectedly, the Emperor paused to think, his brows stern, saying, "The flowers in this palace are all mundane things."

"They even invert the seasons, making it impossible to see their true form."

Every word Chu Yunzheng said, Wan Tang listened to carefully, dissecting them repeatedly in her mind.

"Since Tangtang understands me so well, let Tangtang go for me; I will let you leave the palace and personally provoke the flowers you like."

All the palace staff held their breath.

Wan Tang's knee struck the brick, "I, the concubine, thank Your Majesty for the generous favor."

How high are these palace walls! Once a woman enters, it's a fate of never being able to leave for a lifetime.

If Wan Tang could go out again to see the sky, what an extraordinary honor that would be!

Chu Yunzheng's hand, stroking the back of her neck, slid to her sash, "Tonight I will stay here."

"I will stay with you."

"Anything you wish to say, you can talk with me about."

【What does the Emperor mean? He actually lets Tangtang leave the palace to procure? How many people, after entering the palace gate, will be trapped inside for a lifetime.】

【Is there a possibility that the Emperor is simply testing Wan Tang, to see if she will run away?】

【Stop arguing; for this outing to procure, do you know who is by Wan Tang's side? It's Li Chongyi and Xu Yanchuan. The Dog Emperor is always a suspicious person; even so, he still placed Ouyang Qing in the shadows.】

Yes, the Dog Emperor wants to have everything under his control; he knows Wan Tang took Li Chongyi's money, and he also knows the silver in Wan Tang's storeroom. The national treasury is empty, and the emperor is now panicking over money. You say such a huge sum of silver is in Wan Tang's hands—can the emperor not be on guard? After all, inside Wan Tang's belly is a dragon child. The Dog Emperor has gone through a succession struggle; who knows what he is thinking.

Wan Tang lies on her side between the mandarin‑duck brocade quilt, quietly gazing at the man beside her.

Chu Yunzheng's features are cut deep as a knife in the morning light, the shadows cast by his long lashes conceal the eyes that always can see through everything.

Even in his sleep he remains alert, his right hand loosely clenched; any rustle of wind or movement can make him subdue the opponent at once.

Is this the man at my pillow?

Wan Tang feels not a hint of affection, only an endless abyss.